How COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses interact in children
Viral and Host Dynamics during Pediatric COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Co-Infection
This work looks at how having common respiratory viruses alongside COVID-19 affects how sick children get, how their bodies react, and how the viruses behave over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142467 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has COVID-19, researchers will collect nasal samples and medical information to see whether other respiratory viruses are present and to measure viral amount and changes over time. They will compare children who have only SARS-CoV-2 to those with co-infections and link those findings to clinical outcomes like illness severity. The team will use lab tests, viral sequencing, and markers of inflammation and mucosal injury from the upper airway. Data from hospital records and follow-up will be used to study time to viral clearance and possible emergence of viral changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who can provide nasal samples and clinical information, especially those seen early in illness, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Healthy people without COVID-19, adults not enrolled in pediatric cohorts, or children who cannot provide samples or confirm infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors identify children at higher risk of severe illness and improve testing, monitoring, or treatment strategies for pediatric respiratory infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior reports have found respiratory co-infections in children and links to worse outcomes, but combining detailed viral sequencing with mucosal immune measurements in pediatric co-infection is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hultquist, Judd F — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Hultquist, Judd F
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.